Mrs Webmuppet Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 Ok, the fruit picking season is nigh ( ok it's something to do in the school hols too!) and whilst on the Lakeland Plastics website hunting out jam pot covers, I noticed a jelly bag thingy and stand...................is it any good? I don't want to shell out nearly £20 if it's rubbish. and does anyone have any really good recipes for jellies? The new freezer arrives tommorrow then I can store fruit and make jam etc at my leisure..........or on a rainy school holiday day, LMW loves making jam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aga n Chickens Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 Hello Mrs Webmuppet Yes, yes, yes I must have had my jelly bag and stand for at least 15 years, the stand is very rugged once you have got the knack of putting it together I've had to buy 3 replacement bags as over the years as they tend to become stained, but none of them have ever ripped. Don't over fill the jelly bag with fruit pulp though, as I once had loads of seville oranges to make orange jelly (marmalade without the bits), and it took ages to mop up the tidal wave of juice that shot over the collecting basin when the jelly bag full of orange pulp slipped its fixings and fell into the strained juice Lots of jelly ideas appearing on this thread for all things nice. I've made morello cherry jelly (saves taking all the stones out ) so far this year and intend to make rowan apple and rosemary jelly when I've picked enough rowan berries. Most stoned fruit can be made into jelly. Boil the fruit in a little water, strain the juice overnight and don't squeeze the bag (the juice will turn cloudy if you do), measure out the juice and add sugar at a ratio of 1lb per pint of juice. Then just melt the sugar into the juice over a low heat and bring it up to a boil until setting point is reached. Pot into sterile jars and it stores well in a dark cupboard. Now I have time on my hands I might try out a few unusual combinations of fruits and herbs. Kind regards, Christine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted July 15, 2009 Author Share Posted July 15, 2009 Thank you. I shall pop to lakeland on my way to work on Friday ( it's only a few minutes from the office). Mr Webmuppet blames the Omlet effect on all the homemade stuff thats appeared in the last year, he doesn't realise that LMW and I have even more plans for this year ............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 I inherited my mum's and it's absolutely invaluable - as said above, the bags stain after a while but I just pop them through the washing machine and don't worry about it. It makes straining so much easier, just leave it overnight and no worries about the bag slipping or the cat knocking it over - I usually cover the whole outfit with a tablecloth to keep flies off etc. I made apple jelly last year, gorgeous colour but not many uses! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 I have a couple of jelly bags and just suspend them from an upsidedown diing room chair. Works a treat and only £2.25/bag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted July 15, 2009 Author Share Posted July 15, 2009 I had though about the upside down chair trick but my chairs are of the wooden collapsable variety ( they fold up and fit inside part of the table) so I wouldn't trust them not to fold up and make a horrible mess! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 My mum used to use a kitchen stool upside down, before Lakeland brought out the jelly strainer. I still reckon it's a good investment if you make a lot of jelly though. Also good for straining home-made cream cheese! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 When I made my redurrant jelly a few weeks ago I used a big muslin square gathered up and tied to a kitchen door handle overnight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milly Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 I have had the Lakeland one for a few years (but I don't remember it costing anything like £20!) I used to manage with a bag suspended from the legs of an upturned stool - which was fine, but it always meant I had to give it a good clean before I started and it wasn't easy to find a bowl or jug that fitted between the legs (and came out safely once filled with juice). The Lakeland one is much less trouble! Milly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 I love mine as well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted July 17, 2009 Author Share Posted July 17, 2009 Thank you for all your replies I went and bought the jelly thingy this morning..................just need to go fruit picking now. I shall also keep an eye on the bramble bushes near our house .......I can feel some bramble jelly coming on. Just one thought can you use it to make a pipless raspberry preserve? (my Mum will only eat pipless raspberry jam ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 I don't see why not, you can strain anything through it. You should be able to make raspberry jelly just like any other sort of jelly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 I inherited my mum's and it's absolutely invaluable - as said above, the bags stain after a while but I just pop them through the washing machine and don't worry about it. It makes straining so much easier, just leave it overnight and no worries about the bag slipping or the cat knocking it over - I usually cover the whole outfit with a tablecloth to keep flies off etc. I made apple jelly last year, gorgeous colour but not many uses! I use all my apple jelly in my onion marmalade! Now THAT has many many uses!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 ooh, top tip Pengy - is there a recipe? I had sooo many apples last year, I stewed/sliced/froze as many as I could but couldn't get through them all, so my sister suggested the apple jelly. Easy to make, looked a beautiful amber colour, but although you can spread it on toast, I prefer marmalade, and I couldn't give much of it away! Another use would be fab. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 can you use it to make a pipless raspberry preserve? (my Mum will only eat pipless raspberry jam ) Raspberry jelly is divine - so full of flavour. I posted a recipe in here for Raspberry Pip Wine - using all the leftover mush. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 I have finally succumbed and bought a proper jelly bag stand after years of using an upturned folding table and pillowcase. It's not the Lakeland one but a lovely wooden folding one from a local hardware shop and I'm chuffed to bits with it . Cost the same as the Lakeland one. The bags come clean after a nice long soak in a very strong solution of biological washing powder - one of the few times I ever use the stuff as it's so effective against fruit juice stains. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RutlandRooster Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 It's a jelly bag (or muslin) with a butcher's hook hanging from a kitchen cupboard door for me - never felt the urge to buy a stand! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
